PDP-BJP Govt complacent on Panjgrain, Bajalta Airport proposals: Rana

GJ REPORT
JAMMU, MAY 15: National Conference Provincial President, Devender Singh Rana on Tuesday urged the PDP-BJP Government to impress upon the Centre to accord immediate approval the proposal with regard to alternate Airport either at Bajalta or Panjgrian in close vicinity of the winter capital. “The survey stands undertaken and feasibility report prepared in pursuance to the decision of the District Development Board, on my proposal”, Rana said while reacting to the meeting convened by the Chief Minister on expansion of Jammu Airport and night-landing facilities at Srinagar Airport yesterday.
“In fact the State Government should have been pro-active in pushing the proposal following identification of appropriate sites at Bajalta and Panjgrian by Revenue Department in due deference to the DDB decision”, Rana said, adding that the alternate airport is imperative, not only for meeting needs of huge pilgrim tourist footfall at the gateway to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, but also to have Jammu on the map of international airports with night-landing facilities.
In a statement, the MLA Nagrota said that the proposal had been discussed threadbare at administrative level before preparing feasibility reports, which are suggestive of viable landmass available at both places to have a state-of-art airport with all modern facilities. “The proposal is needed to be taken to logical conclusion and submitted to the Airports Authority of India for inclusion in its airport development programme”, he added.
The MLA hoped that the matter will also be taken up at the highest level during upcoming visit of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi to Jammu and Kashmir later this week for making an announcement in affirmation of the proposal in principle.